Notes: Injuries leave little depth at inside linebacker and more

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Dobbins may join sidelined ILBs
The Texans couldn’t be thinner at inside linebacker heading into the playoffs. A day after the team put Darryl Sharpton on injured reserve, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips admitted Wednesday he’s “worried” about Tim Dobbins’ availability for Saturday.

Dobbins has been battling a shoulder problem during the last half of the season and was held out of practice Wednesday. Coach Gary Kubiak said the idea was to give Barrett Ruud more time with the first unit and also try to catch up Mister Alexander, who was re-signed to replaced Sharpton on the roster.

“We’ll see where we’re at tomorrow, but we knew it was a concern going into the week,” Kubiak said of Dobbins. “He’s been beat up throughout the course of the year, but he’s always found some way to kind of answer the bell, so we’ll see.”

Ruud, signed as a free after Brian Cushing was lost for the season, has been an able fill-in, making two big plays against Detroit on Thanksgiving.

Reed, Ball take portion of reps
The Texans could recover the services of two key defensive players — outside linebacker Brooks Reed, who missed last week’s game after testing the recovery of his torn groin in the previous week’s game, and cornerback Alan Ball, who missed all of December after suffering a foot injury in practice.

“Brooks is fine; he took his portion of the reps,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “Everything is working toward game day. It looks good right now. I think Alan is moving good. We kind of had him on a play count yesterday, (but) we took him off of it today. He went back to work full time. He’d be a big addition … not only defensively but special teams-wise, because he’s played so well for us.”

Ball and Reed were limited during practice.

Manning might draw return duty
Safety Danieal Manning substituted as a returner in one play on Sunday in Indianapolis.

Not wanting to risk injury to their starting safety, the Texans hadn’t used him often on special teams.

“He’s done it good before, just putting him out there,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “He did in the playoffs last year at Baltimore. He’s been special from that standpoint, but he’s got a lot on his plate, too. He plays 70, 75 plays a football game and is very, very valuable to our football team. But like I said, if it can make us better this weekend, then we’ll give him an opportunity to do it.”

Manning returned the kickoff for 18 yards against the Colts.

Johnson reflects on Lewis’ exit
Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis announced he would retire after this season. Lewis was a first-round pick in 1996, back when Texans receiver Andre Johnson was still in high school.

His retirement reminded Johnson of the nature of NFL careers.

“It’s just guys like that who you look up to,” Johnson said. “He gives you great advice about things and stuff like that. He’s a guy that you can sit down and talk to about anything. He’s a guy you hate to see leave the game, but there comes a point in time for everybody when you have to. It’s something you hate to see, but I think his legacy speaks for itself.”